Automatic firearm.



UNITED STAI-Es i To all whom t may concern:

Beit known thatI, FLOYD C. Heumen, a citizen of the United States, residing .at

` Kentland, in the county of Newton and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and' useful Im rovements 1n Automatlc Firearms, of whlch the following isa speci,-l

cation. L i A My `inventlon relates to improvements 1n fire-arms, and it conslsts 1n the constructions, combinations, and arrangementshere-` in described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an automaticall loading fire-arm which includes essentially a magazine/for the cartridges, a receiver being mounted upon the gun stock the receiver containing a breech bolt and-a firing pin, both of `which are adapted to be thrown rearwardly lnto respective cartridge receiving end cocking posltions by the gas pressure lncldent to the firing of the cartridge. y Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic irefarm including a gas pressure operated breech bolt and a firing in disposed within the breech bolt, the breech bolt and the firing pin being provided with'actuating s rings disposed in such correlation with t eir respective parts that they are located at a place remote fromthe firing point of the cartrldges so as not to be affected by the heat of firing. Y

Another object of the invention ,1s to provide an automatic tire-arm having but two moving principal parts consisting of a breech bolt and a firing pin, the breech bolt including an extractor and an ejector whereby an empty cartridge shell is expelled from the gun, the breech bolt servmg to recelve and insert a fresh cartridge into the bore of the gun.y

Other objects and advantages lwill appear from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fire-arm illustrating the embodiment of my invention 2 is a plan view-of the parts s hown in Fig. 1, portlons being shown 1n section,

Fig. 3i1`s a central vertical longitudinal section of the fire-arm shown in F 1g. 1, the

firing pin beingv in the position assumed when a cartridge has been discharged thereby.

specification ot Letters Patent.

YIA'risnzr- OFFICE; l FLoYn c. nnnmcx, or xEN'rLANn, INDIANA. i f

AUTOMATIC rmEAnm structed of wood as is the usual practice.

Mounted on "the gun stock 1 is a receiver 2 which has a rearward extension 3 by which the receiver 2 is secured upon the stock 1 through the medium of a pin or bolt 4.

y The receiver 2 is hollow and has a longitudinally extending slot 5 at the top. The slot 5 terminates at a` relatively large lateral Patented Dec. 1`1, 1917. Application nled April 80, 1917. Serial No. 185,458. ,i

opening 6 through which the cartridges 7 are inserted when it is desired to fill the magazine 8.

As shown in Fig-3, the magazine 8 is an -integral part of the receiver 2 but it should be understood that the magazine 8 may consist of a separate box placed in position on the gun stock 1 and secured in any' suitable manner. The present illustration simply defines a method whereby 'the receiver 2 when once mounted upon the gun stock 1 maybe rigidly held in position. In this connection it will be observed. that the open bottom of the magazine 8 is closed by a coverplate 9 which 1s recessed at one end so that the flange or ledge of a trigger guard 10 z nay v i be received thereby and secured in position i by a screw 11. The trigger guard 10 also threaded'inale connection 15 which is received by a complementally threaded socket 16 upon the forward end of the receiver` 2. The bore 17 of the barrel 13 has an annular chamber or recess 18 at the rear end. The 105 rim 7 of the cartridge 7 is adapted to be received by therecess or chamber 18 and held in position bythe breech bolt 19.

The breech bolt 19 has a collar 20 against which one md of a breechbolt spring 21 110 Fig. 3, the barrel 13 is provided with a 100 bears. l'The other end of the breech bolt ring 21 bears against an annular shouler 22 of a breech bolt case 23. The breech bolt 19 is slidably mounted in the case 23, the collar 20 and the opening in the annular flange 22 serving to guide the breech bolt 19 in its'movement. The breech bolt 19 is thrown backwardly b gas pressure upon the discharge of one of t e cartridges 7. x

A lug 24 on the case 23 isaadapted to enter a recess 25 in the edge of the receiver 2 adjacent to the opening 6 as shown 1n Fig. 1. The purpose o the slot 5 in the receiver 2 will here be apparent, since in assembling the device, the case :33 is inserted into the receiver 2 with the lu 24 in position in the slot 5. When the enr Vof the slot 5 is reached ladjacent to the opening 6, the case 23 is turned toward the right untilv the lug 24 comes into registration with the recess 25 when the case 23 is pulled backwardly so that the lug 24 rests in the recess 25 as show in the drawings.

The rear end ofthe breech bolt 19 is threaded as at 26 so that a knurled cap 27 y may be screwed thereon. The cap 27 .hasl an axial opening 28 in which the shank 29 of a firing pin 30 is slidable.

A spring 31 is coiled about the shank 29 and the forward end thereof bears against a collar 32 on the shank of the firing pin. The rear end of the spring 31`bears against an annular shoulder on the cap 27 as shown in Fig. 3. The knurled cap 27 offers a slight range of adjustment for the spring4 31 so that should it be desired to increase the ten- `sionof the spring 31 somewhat, the knurled cap 27 may be screwed inwardly on the breech bolt 19 and thus tighten the spring 31. While the range of adjustment of the spring 31 as represented by the openspace in the knurled cap 27 in Fig. 3 is very slight, yet in actual practice, the cap 27 may be so formed that a considerable range of ad'ustment of the spring 31 may be aii'orde A cockin rod 33 with its coperating holding devices, serves to retain the firing pin 30 in a retracted position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.'3. The cooking 'rod 33 has a bracket 34to which the shank 29 of the firing pin 30 is secured through the medium of a pin 35.- A linger piece 36 offers a convenient place to catch the cooking rod 33 when it isdesired to draw the firing pin lback to a firing positionthrough manual effort.

In the normal operation of the device, the `rin pin 3Q is retracted or thrown backwar ly to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, by the recoil ofthe breech bolt 19.' When the firing pin is thus thrown backwardly to its retracted or irin position, it is held in this position Vby t eengagement of a pivoted sear 37 with a. notch 38 in the cocking rod 33. The end of the yshell 7 from the 37 and w en the coc ing rod 33 is retract-ed as above stated and the firin pin 30 is disposed in its firing position, t e sear 37 will be in engagement with the Anotch 38 and' depression `of the trigger 40 will-accordingly release the sear from the notch 38 and permit the firing pin to be impelled forwardly by the tension ofthe spring 31.

TheV cartridges 7 are successively moved in line with the bore 17 of the barrel 13 by a follower plate 41 which is pressed upwardly by a spring 42 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A cartridge 7 is fed upwardly by the' follower spring 42 when the breech-bolt 19 is thrust backwardly by the gas pressure upon explosion of a cartrid e, the end of the breech bolt 19 subsequent y engaging the y sear 37 moves through an opening l39 in the` rim 7 of the cartrid e and shoving it for- `wardly in the 'bore 1 under tension ofthe spring 21.

An extractor 43 ulls the empty cartridge ore 17 of the barrel 13 upon the recoil of the breechbolt 19 after the firing of the cartridge. The extractor 43 is secured to the side of the breech bolt 19 at 44 as shown in Fig. 2. 4 The front ed e of the extractor 43 is bent at 45 to provi Ve a hook for gripping the rim 7 of the cartridge 7. The recoil of the breech bolt 19 thus ycauses the extraction of the empty cartrid e shell 7 by reason of the engagement of the hook 45 of the extractor 43 with the rim 7"v of the cartridge shell.

The cartridge shell is then ejected from. i

the gun through the lateral opening 6 by an ejector pin 46 .which is fixed upon the receiver 2 andengages a slot 47 at the side of the breech bolt 19. When the breech bolt 19 reaches theA extremity of its rearward thrust, the pin 46 will strike the edge of the rim 7 and the hook 45 of the extractor 43 then acting as a fulcrum for the empty cartrid e shell 7 ,will serve to throw the empty shel outwardly through the opening 6 as above stated.

The extraction and ejection of an empty cartridge shell is practically simultaneous with the reception and projection into position in the bore 17 of the barrel 13, of a fresh cartridge. It has been explained that the head of the breech bolt 19 presses against the base of the cartridge case and urges it forwardly into its position into the bore 17. -It will also be observed that the head of the breech bolt'19 has a central opening 48'wl1ich the firing pin 30 enters in striking `the cap of the cartridge.

The loading of the ma azine 8 is accomlished by drawing the reech bolt 19 as ar back as it will go and then pressing inananas wardly on a breech bolt lock 49 which is so arranged that it will engage the breech bolt -19` and hold it in the retracted position. The lock 49 may consist simply of a spring pressed latch having suitable connection for y engaging the breech bolt` 19 when the head of the lock 49 is pressed inwardly.

The operation of the device is as follows.

The rststep in the operation of the auto-y the magazine 8 through the lateral -opening `barrel 13 is by manual effort.

6. When the lock'49 is now released the breech bolt 19 will move forwardly and carry a cartridge 7 with it and project the cartridge 7 into its position'in the bore 17 of the barrel 13. The act of drawin lthe breech bolt 19 also causes the-firin pin 30 with its shank`29 to move rearwar ly until the notch 38 in the cocking rod 33 is moved into registration with the end of the sear 37. The cocking rod 33is consequently engaged by the end of the sear 37 through the effort of the scar spring 40. It Will `thus be understood that the' loadingof the magazine 8 and the rojection of the first cartridge 7 into position into the bore 17 of the When Athe trigger 40 is now depressed and the Sear 37 released from the notch38 in the cocking rod 33, the ring of the cartridge 7 results byreason of the expansion of the spring 31 v against lthe collar-32.

The recoil of the breech bolt 19 which results by the tiring of the cartridge 7 serves to bodily move the breech bolt419 rearwardly and carry the ring pin with its cocking rod 33 therewith. `The recoil referred to is `for a subsequent discharge'of another carl `tridge.

sufficient to carry the notch 38 into registration with the end of the sear 37 which will accordingly engage the notch yand hold the cocking rod33 and firing pin 30 in readiness It has been explained that the rearward i movement of the breech bolt 19 through the impetus of the gas pressure causes the eX- traction ofthe empty cartridge shell through the medium of the extractor 43. It has also been Aexplained that the emptyv cartridge shell 7 is ejected by means of the pin 46` Almost simulwhich moves in` the slot 47. taneouslywith the extraction of the empty cartridge shell, a fresh cartridge 7 is urged upwar ly into position against the head of the breech bolt 19 by the follower spring 42. When the eifort of the recoil-ceases, `the breech bolt 19 will again move forwardly 66 through-the exertion of the tension of the spring 21 in the case 23. The fresh cartridge 7 which was front of the head o the breech bolt 19 by theA follower spring 42, is now carried forwardly and rojected into its position `in the bore 17 o fthe barrel 13.

Upon each firing of` a cartridge 7, the

reloading of the barrel of the gun` is an automatic action. While but two cartridges are illustrated in the cartridge 'mag-` azine 8, it should be understood thatkthe magazineV 8 may be of any desired length ireviously advanced rin lejection of the empty cartridgeshell and the so that a comparatively great quantity of cartridges may be carried thereby.

It should also be observed that the construction of the automatic fire-arm involves the least number of mechanical parts. .The

at a place remote rom the firing point, the

temper of the springs will not be affected.

While the construction and arrangement of' the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is that of a generally preferredk form, obviously modifications and changes 'therein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim 1. A fire-arm including a barrel, a rel "ceiverincluding 'a magazine and having a longitudinal slot and a lateral discharge opening, the receiver having a notch adjacent to the discharge opening, a recoil operated breech bolt for receiving and pressing a cartridge toward and into the barrel, and a breech bolt case for supporting the breech f bolt, said case having a lugreceivable within the notch for fixing thefcase 1n position.

2. In a lire-arm, the combination of a barrel, a receiver, including a magazine, said receiver having` a lateral discharge opening said receiver having a notch adJacent said discharge opening, a breech bolt case positioned within said receiver' and having a lug carried within said notch for holdinggsaid casein a set position, a breech bolt reciprocally mounted within said case,l a collar carriedY upon said breech bolt, a coil spring lbearing u on said case andy said collar for urgingy sald bolt in one direction, a firing pin having' a shank projecting through said breech bolt, a coil spring carried within said breech bolt for urging said firing pin in one direction, said breech -bolt 'and firing pin being thrown rearwardly by gas pressure, and means for releasably retaining saidfiring pin in aset position and lsaid breech bolt returning to its-normal position.

3. In a fire-arm, the combination of a barrel, a receiver, a breech bolt case carried by said receiver, a cylindrical breech b olt projecting through said casing, a collar formed upon said breech bolt, a co1l spring bearin upon said collar `and carried within sai casing for urging said breech bolt in one d1- rection, a cap carried upon one end of said breech bolt, an opening formed in the opposite end of said breech bolt, a vfiring pin pro-` j ecting through said last mentioned opening, a shank connected to said firing pin and extending into said cap, a spring bearing upon said cap, a collar carried upon said shank, said last mentioned spring engaging said last mentioned collar for urging said firing'I pin in one direction, an L shaped cooking rod connected to said shank and extending into said receiver and said casing, said breech bolt and firing pin beingmoved rearwardly by gas pressure, means engaging said cocking rod for releasably retaining the same in a set position and said breech bolt returning to its normal position.

4. In a fire-arm,the combination of a barrel, a receiver, including a magazine, said receiver having a lateral discharge opening, said receiver having a notch adJacent said opening, a breech bolt casing carried within- 'said receiver and having a lug'tting within and holding said said' notch for holding said case in a set position, a breech bolt passing through said casing, a collar formed upon said breech y bolt and engaging the inner surfaces of said casing whereby said breech bolt will be held in a central position, va coil spring carried within said casingI yand bearing upon said collar for urging said breech boltin one direction,`said breech bolt having an openin in one end and a cap upon the opposite en thereof, a shank 'ha/vin,` a firing pin upon one end, a collar carrie by said shank,rsaid collar bearing within said breech bolt and said shank passing through said cap, whereby said firing pin will be held in alinement with the opening in said breech bolt, a coil spring carried within said breech bolt andk bearing upon said last mentioned collar for urging said firing pin in one direction, an

L shaped cocking rod connected to said shank and fitting between said case and receiver, said breech bolt and firing pin being thrown rearwardly by gas pressure, means.

for releasably `ellgaging said cocking' rod ring pin in a set position, and said breech bolt returning to its normal position.

In testimony' whereof I aflix my signature in presence of itwo witnesses,

FLOYD C. HEDRICK. Witnesses F. W. Hmmm, WALTER L. B'URMAN. 

